Components of Strategic Management in Iranian Public Libraries

To explore the views of experts regarding the components of strategic management in public libraries in Iran. Findings can help provide efficient services and achieve the goals and vision of public libraries and be a good tool for operationalizing the strategic management of public libraries.

Delphi technique was employed to obtain the opinions of 20 strategic management and information science specialsists selected purposefully in three rounds. Shapiro-Wilk test was used to check normality of individual data. With a significance level of less than 0.05 alpha, with 0.95 confidence, the data were non-parametric (not normal). Due to the quality and sequence of the Likert spectrum and non-parametric items, non-parametric binomial tests were used which are specified in the table of results of the binomial test of the data ratio in the two groups. Also, if the significance level obtained was less than 0.05 alpha, it as considered significant with 0.95 confidence. Significance level greater than 0.05 alpha, was not significant with 0.95 confidence and was removed. Kendall test was also used to determine the degree of coordination between views expressed. Such coefficient is denoted by the symbol w, meaning a value between 0 and 1. If the Kendall coefficient was zero, it meant complete disagreement, and if it was one, it meant absolute agreement.

Out of 99 components of strategic management, 78 were approved . Out of 41 components related to the development of strategic plans, 11 existed in the mission of the Public Library Foundation, 8 related to the environmenta scanning (ie. opportunities and threats), 15 reflecting internal factors (ie. strengths and weaknesses), and 7 related to the selection of appropriate strategies. Outo of 25 components related to the implementation, 12 related to operational plans, marketing, financial and accounting, research&development, information technology, and 13 focused on management issues. Components of control and evaluation of strategic plans also included 12 components, including control and evaluation of internal and external factors. Panelists agreed control and evaluation is highly imporntant in th eprocess.

Seventy-eight basic components for strategic management were identified and approved and presented in a framework. The process and framework shows a deeper understanding of the strategic management system in public libraries. Public library administrators should identify gaps and shortcomings in strategic plans in the process of development, implementation, and evaluation.